Jeffrey Goldberg writes the Obama administration seems to be arguing Israel is “almost entirely” to blame for the stalled peace process, which “clearly isn’t true.” Goldberg’s own suggestion is Israel should do things it has either already done or would have no effect if it did them now:
“The Palestinian Authority of Mahmoud Abbas seems uninterested in even sharing its ideas for compromise with Israel. Yet this doesn’t excuse the Netanyahu government’s inability to curtail the settlements or the settlers, some of whom behave despicably toward their Palestinian neighbors. The occupation will come to an end only through direct negotiation. The West Bank settlers should, if nothing else, be brought under the rule of law, and be encouraged to come home.”
Let’s see: Israel withdrew every settler and soldier from Gaza; it had no effect. Then Netanyahu instituted a ten-month construction freeze throughout the West Bank; it had no effect. There is currently an unannounced freeze except in areas Israel will keep in any conceivable peace agreement — no effect. Netanyahu formally endorsed a Palestinian state — Abbas says he will never recognize a Jewish one. The PA has unelected leaders with no authority to negotiate — even if they were interested in negotiating — and cannot implement any agreement even if one were negotiated, since half the putative state is held by the terrorist group Abbas pledged in the last agreement to dismantle but did not. Abbas was previously offered a Judenrein state on substantially all the West Bank (with a swap for the rest) and walked away.
And it is unclear in the first place why Arabs can live in a Jewish state but Jews cannot live in a Palestinian one.
Apply the Israeli law to the supposedly uncurtailed settlers. But do not think they are the reason there is no peace process, or that encouraging them to leave their homes would have any effect at all. A better peace plan is the one put forward yesterday by the Israeli foreign minister. In the meantime, the settlements should stay put.
Gee whiz, Goldberg has some nifty ideas. Better rush them over to Netanyahu's office. This could be the breakthrough we've all been waiting for. He might even get the Saudi King to sign on, like he did for Tom Friedman's Bestest Peace Plan Ever. n nThose nasty 'settlers'. What bad neighbors they are. Kidnapping kids and taking them to caves where their heads are mashed to jelly, breaking into homes and cutting the necks of sleeping children and their parents, throwing concrete blocks into the windshields of moving cars. Shooting pregnant women and kids point blank . . . n nOh, wait a minute . . . . n
Absolutely 100% agree. Enough of the charade..
no–here's what Israel needs to do. flip the bird to the world and protect itself and its citizens. until we have a new friendlier president to help them (which G-d willing will be soon) they're all alone. the very next rocket out of Gaza should be the start of Cast Lead Part 2. n